Pretoria – “I have plans for you but it is ultimately God who decides our faith and destiny”. That was a message Rifleman Khomotso Msenga constantly conveyed to his family as he reported for duty in the South Africa National Defence Force over the years.
Scores of mourners gathered in Mamelodi on Saturday to pay tribute to their fallen “hero” Msenga, one of the 13 South African soldiers killed in the Central Africa Republic (CAR) last week. Soldiers in full uniform gathered next to a church hall in the east of the township while military police in armoured vehicles controlled traffic in the surrounding streets. Inside the church, Msenga’s coffin was wrapped in the South African flag, an official symbol of respect afforded to soldiers who die on duty.
The funeral service was one of 13 being held in various provinces across the country. Six services were held in the Free State, one in Limpopo, Eastern Cape, Northern Cape, North West, Western Cape and two in Gauteng.
As mourners sang and prayed inside the fully packed hall, colleagues described Msenga as loyal patriot who put his country first.
“They died defending peace and prosperity in Africa. He was an asset in the South African National Defence Force, the kind we will not be able to replace,” read a message from his commanders in the army,” said General Manfred Mabuza.
“Heroes are never mourned but are celebrated so is rifleman Msenga…how long one lives is immaterial but what matters is their contribution to society.” Later colleagues in a message expressed heartfelt condolences, saying Msenga had left a void in the SANDF. He was described as calm, disciplined and down to earth.
“His name will go down in history as a great hero of our country…may his soul rest in peace.”
The South African force was involved in a nine-hour firefight with thousands of rebels who invaded the CAR's capital Bangui last month and seized control of the country, which has rich deposits of gold, diamonds and uranium.
Twenty seven of them were wounded and have since returned to South Africa for medical attention.
Last week, President Jacob Zuma paid tribute to the fallen soldiers describing them as "heroes" sent to uphold South Africa's foreign policy and were protecting a deployment of military trainers sent in 2007 under a military cooperation agreement.
“We salute and honour them for the supreme sacrifice they have paid for the achievement of peace in Africa.
They fought side by side as true soldiers, fighting off a large group of rebels who had attacked the South African military base,” Zuma said.
Msenga’s mother sobbed as her son’s coffin was lowered to the grave at Hatherley cemetery outside Mamelodi.
He is survived by his father, mother, two sisters and one daughter. – SAnews.gov.za
